General Information about the City's Inoperable Vehicle Abatement Program
Roanoke's inoperable motor vehicle ordinance (Chapter 20, Article VI, of the Code of the City of Roanoke) requires that a motor vehicle or trailer located on private property display both a valid license plate and an inspection decal that is not expired by more than 60 days. It must also be in “operating condition” which generally means that it appears to be capable of passing a state inspection, with no missing parts, flat tires, broken glass or other obvious damage that would render it “inoperable”.
City Code permits one inoperable motor vehicle to be stored within a fully enclosed privacy fence, and two vehicles may be stored within a privacy fence if of the same model - one being used as a “parts car” for the other. This concession was made for hobbyists. Property owners should be aware that a Zoning Permit must be obtained before constructing a privacy fence or any auxiliary structure.
Vehicles with valid “antique tags” are exempt from having a Virginia state inspection decal as are vehicles with valid license plates from some states such as Tennessee, West Virginia and Georgia. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can answer questions regarding antique plates and out of state plates, and take complaints for matters not covered by Roanoke City Code. Visit the DMV website for additional information